Whether it is for capturing memories with loved ones or taking the perfect selfie, the sudden “red eye effect” from the reflection of a camera flash on the retina of the eye sometimes occurs. Thankfully, with modern technology and easy-to-use tools, you can remove the red eye effect from your photos and restore their quality to picture-perfect. In this article, we will explore causes related to having red eyes in photos and will further share some tools and techniques to remove red eye effect.

Understanding red eyes in photos

The red-eye effect is a result of a camera flash to the retina. It would normally happen in a poor photo-taking environment, like low light. Because the people’s pupils in the photo are dilated when facing the camera flashlight and let more light enter. The reflected light of the flash travels back to the camera with a red appearance, so, in the photo, we will see the red eyes of the people. 

Thankfully, several tools can be used to help with this problem, easily restoring natural eye colors and further enhancing your images. The following sections will discuss various ways to remove red-eye using online tools, mobile apps, and advanced editing software.

How to remove red eyes in photos online

For people who do not want to download software but want quick and easy solutions, online tools are their haven. Such platforms allow you to repair red-eye effects with a couple of clicks, making them suitable for both amateurs and professionals.

AiPassportPhotos 

AiPassportPhotos is an AI-powered online photo retouching platform that makes it extremely easy to remove blemishes from photos, including the red-eye effect. The one-click editing possibilities make AiPassportPhotos ideal for any user who does not need advanced skills in editing red eyes for professional results. Apart from this, AiPassportPhotos can do more than that. It can remove all the blemishes like wrinkles, correct the color, etc. So, it is perfect for retouching your photo.

How to use:

  • Select the image you want to edit, then upload it to the platform.
  • The AI automatically analyses the photo and removes red eyes, together with other imperfections.
  • Download the red-eye effect removal from the edited photo below and enjoy better photo quality.

Fotor

Fotor is a versatile photo editing platform that includes a powerful Red Eye Remover tool, making it easy to fix red eyes and restore natural eye color in seconds. Whether you’re editing selfies, portraits, or group photos, Fotor uses AI-powered technology to detect and correct the red-eye effect automatically. This is the perfect tool for touching up photos taken in low-light conditions, ensuring your favorite moments are photo-ready without having to retake or discard them.

How to use:

  1. Upload the image you want to retouch to Fotor.
  1. Tap the Red Eye Remover icon; this automatically detects red eyes and allows you to override it for more fine-tuned precision manually.
  1. Tap the checkmark icon to confirm and apply changes.
  2. Download the fixed photo and share it with ease.

How to get rid of red eyes in photos on phone

Having red eyes fixed on your phone is convenient and hassle-free to improve your photos right on your device. Whether you use an Android or iOS device, there is always an app dedicated to making the process quick and easy. 

PhotoDirector(for Android)

PhotoDirector is a powerful and user-friendly app for Android users, offering a dedicated tool to quickly remove red eyes from your photos. With its intuitive interface and precision editing, you can easily restore natural eye color and enhance your images.

How to use:

  1. Open the PhotoDirector application and select a photo from the gallery that you want to edit.
  2. Within Portrait tools, find the red-eye removal option.
  3. Zoom into the image to put all your concentration on the areas that need fixing in great detail.
  4. Tap every red eye, and the application will outline the area it will correct.
  5. The adjustment is easily refined by using the opacity slider to ensure the correction looks natural.
  6. Once this sounds right, save and export your edited photo.

Youcam (for iOS)

YouCam Makeup is a highly rated app for removing red eyes from a photo with accuracy and ease. With the advanced AI face-detecting technology, it automatically detects red eyes in your picture and naturally fixes them. Other apps might require manual selection or complex adjustments, but YouCam Makeup simplifies these into just a few quick taps.

How to use:

  1. Download the YouCam Makeup app.
  2. Open the app and tap “Photo Edit” to upload your photo that needs fixing.
  3. Tap on “Retouch” and select the option of “Red-Eye.” Activate this feature, and the system will automatically detect and remove red eyes from your photo.
  4. Save the corrected image and enjoy a flawless photo.

How to remove red eye effect on Photoshop

Photoshop is a professional photo editing software with which you can easily remove the red eye effect in photos. You have a remarkable Red Eye Tool to rectify red eyes with more speed and precision, adjusting them to provide a full natural finish. This feature is very helpful for photographers and photo enthusiasts who wish to present flawless edits without compromising quality.

How to use:

  1. Open your photo in Photoshop and select the Red Eye Tool from your toolbar. It is grouped in with the Spot Healing Brush tool.
  1. Click on every red eye in the image above, and instantly, Photoshop will correct the red areas for you (Adjust pupil size and darken amount as needed by using the adjustment in the settings bar.)
  2. Save your edited image by going to File > Save As and selecting a format.

How to correct red eye in photos on Mac

The Mac Photos app is an easy-to-use photo editing tool for macOS users. It can quickly fix the red eye in your picture with a built-in feature. This tool does automatic red eye detection and thus instantly corrects it for you so that you can get natural-colored eyes with just a few clicks. Whether you edit portraits or group shots, Mac Photos ensures a smooth and professional-looking result without needing complex software.

How to use:

  1. Open the photo in Photos with your Mac.
  2. Click Edit, located in the right corner of the window.
  3. In the toolbar, select Adjust and click the Red-eye option.
  4. Click on the red eyes within the photo, and it will be automatically corrected by Photos.
  5. When you are satisfied, just click Done to save your edited photo.

Tips to avoid red eyes in pictures

As stated previously, in photography, red-eye is the most common problem caused by the reflection of a flash to the retina. To prevent the occurrence of this effect and make your photos clearer and much more natural, here are a few things that you may want to remember.

First, the most straightforward one from a technical perspective is to turn off the flash. That will prevent the light from reflecting directly off the retina. If you must use Flash, try setting your camera to the mode which reduces red-eye. Most cameras use a pre-flash in this mode to constrict the pupils. Another helpful tip is to increase ambient lighting in the room, which will decrease the reliance on the flash and prevent the red-eye. Getting your subjects to look away from the camera or even changing the angle of the shot helps reduce the flash from reflecting back into the camera lens. 

FAQ

Are red eyes in photos normal?

Yes, red eyes in photos are very common. They happen whenever a camera flash is used in lower light conditions because the pupils dilate, then, the flashlight off the retina at the back of the eye causes a red-eye.

How to fix red eyes in Snapseed?

Snapseed doesn’t have a specific red-eye tool, but you can fix the red-eye effect manually using the Healing tool. Here’s how:

  1. Open your photo in Snapseed.
  2. Under Tools, tap on Healing.
  3. Zoom into the area of the red eye for better accuracy.
  4. Gently stroke over the red portion of the eye with the Healing tool.
  5. Snapseed will automatically blend the area to the tones surrounding it and remove or lessen the red-eye effect.

How do you remove red marks from photos?

Many online tools, which are easily accessible and don’t require any installation of software, can remove red marks from the photos. Editing in your browser is possible with popular sites like Fotor, Pixlr, or Photopea. Just upload your photo, select the Spot Healing Brush or something similar, click on the red marks, and the software will automatically blend the area with the surrounding tones. These tools are very efficient and ideal for quick fixes that don’t require advanced editing skills.

Conclusion

Red-eye and red marks are the most common distractions in any photo, but these are comparatively easy to fix if one has the right tools. Don’t let tiny imperfections get in the way of your favorite moments. Check out these editing tools we discussed in this article to enhance your pictures with ease. Give it a try and bring the best out of each shot!

By Dolores Xiao

I am a content creator and marketer with over 5 years of professional writing experience. I hold a bachelor's degree in communications and have a natural curiosity about technology, as evidenced by my technology blog. As an avid traveler, I draw upon adventures in over 10 countries to inject unique cultural perspectives into my articles and social media campaigns. I thrive on developing engaging content that informs and inspires audiences.